Top for vehicles and the like



Apr. 24, 1923.

. F. K. LEWIS TOP FOR VEHICLES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 11, 1919 7 Wed K.Lew/6 23 v TTOBN Q- Patented Apr. 24, 1923.

WEI) STATES FRED K: LEWIS, or A'sH'rABULA, OHIO.

' TOP FOR VEHICLES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed January 11, 1919.

To all w ham it may concern: Be it known that I, FRED K. LEWIS, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Ashtabula, county ofAshtabula, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Tops for Vehicles and the like, of which the following is aspecification, the principle of the invention being herein explained andthe best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, soas to distinguish it from other inventions.

The object ofthe present invention is to provide an outrigger structurefor automobile tops of the so=called one man" type,

which will be capable of considerably more longitudinal extension thanin present designs, while still retaining the essential feature ofsupporting the top structure wholly from a single main bow. Moreparticularly the object is to provide a structure of the character inquestion, which may be supported from a single rearwardly inclining mainbow, so that when the top is extended the entire tonneau space forwardlyof suchmain bow will be clear of any ObStILlGtlOIl, even where suchtonneau 1s a two-seated one.

A further object is to provide a structure that may be readilymanipulated to either fold or unfold as desired, without it beingnecessary for the operator to leave the ton--' :neau.

To the accompllshment of the foregoing and related ends, theinvention,-then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the I claims, the annexed drawing and thefollowing description settingforth in detail certain mechanism embodyingthe invention,

such disclosed means constituting, however,

but one of the various mechanical forms in which the principle of theinvention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. l is a side elevational view of a topsupporting structure embodying my present improvements, such top beingshown as mounted on an automobile body or tonneau of conventional form;Fig. 2 is a similar side elevational view, but showing the top and suchsupporting structure in partially collapsed or folded condition; Fig. 3is a broken plan view of a portion of the structure, as indicated by theline -33, Fig. 1;

Serial No. 270,709.

and Fig. 4 is a transverse section of a detail, the plane of suchsection being indicated by the line 4-4, Fig. 3.

g It is of course a matter of indifference whether the top is used onautomobile, motor-boat or otherwise, and, depending upon itslongitudinalextent, a smaller or larger number of bows, in addition to the outriggerstructure of present interest, may be utilized.

It will also be understood that the term bow is used hereininclusivelyto designate 1 is ;-designed to be entirely supported"through an appropriate outrigger structure from a single main bow 2. Thelgtter, which isof substantial construction in view of the '-weight itis thus designed to carry, is pivotally supported upon or attached tothe'body at the point 3 in the usual manner, so that it may be laid downand supported in a sub- 'stantially horizontal plane when the top ,is

not in use. Normally, in the extended or open condition of the top, saidmain bow 2 inclines rearwardy at an angleof approximately forty-fivedegrees to the horizontal,

beingheld from rising higher by the top covering, or rather by specialstraps (not shown) or extensions of the'longitudinal strainers which, asis well known, are used to connect the bows together and providesupporting means for the top covering intermediately between said bows.For the purpose in hand such straps or strainers may be regarded as apart of the covering material.

The outrigger structure comprises a main articulated auxiliary bow, or,as it is sometimes called, outrigger bow 6, thelatter term referringmore particularly to the outer portion or bow proper, 7, which issecured to the main bow 2 by means of an arm 8 '(one on'each side ofcourse) pivotally attached to said main bow and to the rear end of suchoutrigger bow, and so constituting the inner portion of said articulatedauxiiiary bow (5. The point of attachn'ient of this arm to the main bowis preferably in line with, or just above, the side edge of the cover,so as to be hidden by the latter, and the joint 9 between said arm andthe outrigger bow is rule joint disposed so as to prove t furtherbending of the arm in question, when extended in horizontal fashion, asin the open condition of the top illustrated in Fig. 1.

Pivotaliy attached to the arm 0 is sup plemental how 10, that, in suchopen condition of the top, is designed to extend forwardly at an anglewith respect to said arm, so as to support the cover 1 at a point approximately midway between the main bow 2 and outrigger bow 7Operatively con necting said supplemental bow with the main bow 2 andoutrigger bow 7, is a l nk or brace, preferably comprising three partspivotally connected together, the intermediate link 11 being pivotallyattached to said supplemental be and the two other links 12 and 1;"; omg respectively attached to the main how 2 at a poin' above the point ofpivotal attaclinent Of the arm 8 thereto, and to the outrigger how 7 ata point beyond the joint 9. All of the joints in this three-partarticulated link are freely bending, both those between the linksthemselves, and those between the two longer, links and the main andoutrigger bows, respectively, so that the intermediate link 11, which ispreferably considerably shorter than the two other links, operates ineffect as a double-arm lover or equalizer bar; except the forward l1nk13is formed at the, end thereof which is pivotally attached to saidshorter link 11, with a lateral projection 1 1 (see Figs. 3 and 4) thatis adapted to verlie such shorter link and provide in effect a lockjoint at this point in the open or extended condition of the top.

The particular manner in which arm 8 and link 12 are pivotally attachedto main bow 2 is a matter of indifference, but preferably a bracket 15of the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 may be utilized, such bracketbeing firmly attached to the front face f the main bow, and the upperportion which the link attached lying clear such main bow so asc-orrespondingly shift forwardly the ioint of attachment the link.

The forward longer link 13 extends be yond the point 16 of its pivotalattachment to outrigger bow 7 so as to constitute in effect a lever, thelower end of which projects a trifle below the plane of said bow whenthe top is open, and attached to such end is a second outrigger bow 17,which supports the extreme forward portion of the top covering 1. Inother words, there are in effect two outrigger bows which support theforward portion of the top covering and permit of a corresponding in-:rease in the longitudinal extent of the latter without requiring aseparate forward support resting on the vehicle body. This secondoutrigger bow 17 is freely pivotally connected with said link, or lever13, it being observed that the position of the joint is determined bythe angular position of the link, which is locked in proper place whenthe top is open. A separate link 18,however, connects said outri 'gerbow 17 with the main outrigger bow 7, so that it is supported therefromwithout imposing too much strain on the cover material between the twobows.

Said link 18 furthermore serves to correlate the movement of the twooutrigger bows when the top is being folded, as will be evident from aninspection of Fig. 2. This same figure clearly illustrates the mannor inwhich the other component parts of the top supporting structure fold up;in other words, the links 13 and 18 maintain the supplemental bow 10 andthe two outrigger bows 7 and 17 in substantially parallel arrangementduring such folding operation, and equally during the unfolding of thetop. In order to fold or collapse the top, it is merely necessary tobreak the joint 9 by pressing down thereon, whereupon the weight of theparts naturally tends to cause the several bows to fold up in the mannerjust indicated. As these drop back upon the main bow 2, the latter willfall rearwardly into the approximately horizontal position indicated indotted outline in Fig.

v2, with the bows 10, 7 and 17 folded closely thereagainst, the linksthat operatively connest said last mentioned bows lying alongsidethereof.

The structure is thus seen to be unusually compact in its foldedcondition, and yet when extended an adequate support for a top ofconsiderable longitudinal extent is provided without any obstruction inthe way of a forwardly inclining main bow, or braces or links that liebelow the side line of the top covering. The various component bows arejoined together by the employment of a minimum number of connectingparts, which need not be of specially heavy construction, in order toafford a rigid and entirely satisfactory support.

It will be understood of course that when the top is extended, thesecond or extreme forward outrigger bow is attached or tied down to thewindshield as ind cated by the dotted line at the right of Fig. 1. Thetop, however. self-supporting save as jars or the wind might tend totilt it bodily about the single pivotal support 3 upon which the wholestructure is sustained.

is in the foregoing description, the two bows 7 and 17 maybe regarded asfirst and second outrigger bows in the order named, the first of saidbows being of two-part medium of the three links 11, 12 and 13.

The latter may also be regarded as constituting a flexible connectionbetween the rear portion of the first named outrigger how, the main bowand the supplemental bow.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my inventionl. In a top for vehicles and the like, the combination of a main how; atwo-part articulated outrigger bow having its rear portion pivotallyattached to said main bow; a lever pivotally attached to the forwardportion of said outrigger bow and intersecting the same in the openposition of the top; a second outrigger bow pivotally attached to theforward end of said lever, the rear end of the latter having a flexiblelinked connection with said main bow; and a supplemental bow pivotallyattached to the rear portion of said first-named outrigger bow andoperatively connected with said lever through said linked connections.

2. In a top for vehicles and the like, the combination of a main how; atwo-part articulated outrigger bow having its rear portion pivotallyattached to said main bow;

a lever pivotally attached'to the forward portion of said outrigger bowand intersecting the same in the open position of the top; a secondoutrigger bow pivotally attached to the forward end of said lever; linksconnecting the rear end of said lever with said main bow at a pointabove the point of attachment of said first-named outrigger bow thereto;anda supplemental bow pivotally attached to the rear portion of saidfirst-named outrigger bow and to one of said links.

3. In a top for vehicles and the like, the combination of a main bow; atwo part articulated outrigger bow having its rear portion pivotallyattached to said main how; a lever pivotally attached to the forwardportion of said outrigger bow and intersecting the same in the openposition of the top; a second outrigger bow pivotally attached to theforward end of said lever; two links connecting said lever with saidmain bow at a point above the point of attachment of said'first-namedoutrigger how thereto, the forward of said links being shorter than'theother; and a supplemental bow pivotally attached to the rear portion ofsaid first-named outrigger bow and to said forward link at a pointbetween the ends thereof.

4t. In atop for vehicles and the like, the combination of a main bow; atwo-part articulated outrigger bow having its rear portion pivotallyattached to said main how; a lever pivotally attached to the forwardportion of said outrigger bow and intersecting the same in the openposition of the top; a second outrigger bow pivotally attached to theforward end of said lever; two other links connecting said first-namedlink with said main bow at a point above the point of attachment of saidfirst-named outrigger bow thereto, the forward of said links beingshorter than the other; a supplemental bow pivotally attached to therear portion of said first-named outrigger bow and to said forward linkat a point between the ends of the latter; and another link directlyconnecting said second outrigger bow with the outer portion of saidfirst outrigger how.

5. In a top for vehicles and the like, the combination of a main bow; atwo-part articulated outrigger bow having its rear portion pivotallyattached to said main bow; a lever pivotally attached to the forwardportion of said outrigger bow and intersecting the same in the openposition of the top; a second outrigger bow pivotally attached to theforward end of said lever;

two links connecting said lever with said.

main bow at a point above the point of at tachment of said first-namedoutrigger bow thereto, the forward of said links being shorter than theother and the joint between said first-named and forward links being alock-joint; and a supplemental bow pivotally attached to the rearportion of said first-named outrigger bow and to said forward link at apoint between the ends of the latter.

6. In a top for vehicles and the like, the combination of a main how; atwo-part articulated outrigger bow having its rear portion pivotallyattached to said main bow; a supplemental bow pivotally attached to suchrear portion of said outrigger bow; a member pivotally attached betweenits ends to said supplemental bow and serving as an equalizer; membersflexibly connecta supplemental bow pivotally attached to such rearportion of said outrigger bow; a member pivotal-11y attached between itsends to said supplemental boW and serving as an equalizer; membersflexibly connecting said equalizer member with said main bow and withthe outer portion of said outrigger bow; a second outrigger bowpivotully attached to such last-mentioned memher; and a link directlyconnecting said sec- 10 0nd outrigger bow With the outer portion of saidfirst outrigger bow.

Signed by me, this 10th day of January 1919.

FRED K. LEWIS.

